Fail-safe raft system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a novel and improved packaging system for an inflatable raft in survival apparatus used by a pilot after an ejection from his aircraft over water. The improved packaging system involves use of a pair of cup-shaped boot members that fit over opposite ends of the compactly rolled raft and a cover member that overlies the rolled raft and boot members. Studs on the outer peripheral surface of one flap of the cover member engage grommets in the ends of tabs attached to the boot members as well as grommets on the other flap of the cover member and prevent premature inflation of the raft until the cover member and boot members are removed.

Chris T. Koochembere [72] Inventor Glendora, NJ. [21] AppL No. 811,070 [22] Filed Mar. 27, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 31, 1971 [73] Assignee The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy [54] FAIL-SAFE RAFT SYSTEM 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 244/148 [5!] int. Cl 864d 17/40 [50] Field of Search 244/148, 147, l, 142; 9/2; 206/65 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,114,301 4/1938 Harrigan 244/148 2,366,455 1/1945 Patten 244/147 2,444,859 7/1948 Sturtevant 9/2 2,467,038 4/1949 Kajdan 244/148 3,057,472 9/1962 Douty 206/65 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant ExaminerCarl A. Rutledge Attorneys-E. J. Brower and A. W, Collins ABSTRACT: The present invention relates to a novel and improved packaging system for an inflatable raft in survival apparatus used by a pilot after an ejection from his aircraft over water. The improved packaging system involves use of a pair of cup-shaped boot members that fit over opposite ends of the compactly rolled raft and a cover member that overlies the rolled raft and boot members. Studs on the outer peripheral surface of one flap of the cover member engage grommets in the ends of tabs attached to the boot members as well as grommets on the other flap of the cover member and prevent premature inflation of the raft until the cover member and boot members are removed.

PATENIEU AUB31 I91! 3. 602 ,463

sum 1 [IF 2 INVENTOR.

CHRIS T. KOOCHEMBERE mum Arron/vs) FAIL-SAFE RAFT SYSTEM Survival equipment to be effective when a pilot must make an emergency exit from his aircraft over water must meet certain essential requirements. The equipment must not only eject the pilot safely from his aircraft and effect his safe descent to the water. It must also provide an effective flotation means for the pilot for prolonged periods of time on the water. Although various types of satisfactory flotation devices have been devised in the past, considerable difficulty has been experienced heretofore in packaging such devices in a compact suitable manner for satisfactory disposition in the confined cockpit area of the aircraft.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved packaging technique for the inflatable survival or other flotation device in survival equipment used by a pilot in an ejection from his aircraft over water.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel and improved inflatable raft package for aircraft water survival equipment which includes a fail-safe feature that prevents inadvertent premature inflation of the raft.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel and improved inflatable raft package for aircraft water survival equipment which includes a package opening feature that permits rapid unrestricted inflation of the raft when its CO inflation cartridge is actuated.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a pilot wearing the improved water survival apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the pilot's seat cushion, his parachute pack and the improved inflatable raft package of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the improved raft package of the invention with its cover member in its opened condition; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the improved raft package of the invention with its cover member in its closed condition.

Referring now to the various FIGS. of the drawing, it will be noted that the parachute pack 3 and the seat cushion 5 are positioned behind the buttocks area of the pilot 7 by the various conventional strap and harness assemblies. The improved inflatable raft assembly 9 of the invention is secured to the bottom edge of the seat cushion 5 by the heavy duty zipper mechanism 11 and to the parachute pack 3 by straps 13 and suitable interconnecting lift-a-dot fastening devices associated therewith. The strap-buckle interconnection 12 also preferably connects the raft assembly 5 with the parachute pack 3.

The raft assembly 9 includes an inflatable raft 15, a pair of cup-shaped boot members 17 which fit over opposite ends of the raft when it is rolled into a compact cylindrical configuration, and a cover member 19 which encloses the raft and the boot members when the assembly is in its normal packed condition. The inflatable raft 15 is preferably constructed of a polyurethane coated nylon fabric material which has been found to be highly durable, light in weight and readily rolled into a small compact package. As will be more apparent hereinafter, the pressurized CO, gas cartridge 21 permits automatic inflation of the raft when the cover member 19 and the boot members 17 are removed and the herringbone nylon tape or line 23, which is secured to a control valve of the cartridge 21 as well as to one boot member 17, is operated.

The boot member 17 are preferably connected to one another by the nylon tape or the like 18 that extends therebetween. Each of the boot members 17 also has an integral tab 25 that extends inwardly toward the center of the rolled raft 15 when the boot members 17 are positioned over its opposite ends. A pair of studs 27 are secured to the outer peripheral surface of the cover member 19 adjacent one of its side edges and extend outwardly therefrom. When the boot members 17 are positioned over the ends of the rolled raft 15 and the cover member 19 is wrapped about the raft 15, the studs 27 pass through the grommets 29 adjacent the end of each respective tab 25 and through similarly spaced grommets 31 in the other flap of the cover member 19. Conventional ripcord pins 33, which are connected to one end of the control cable 35, extend through apertures in the ends of studs 27 and secure the grommets 29 and 31 in position over studs 27 when the raft is rolled in its normal packaged condition. When the ripcord pins 33 are positioned in studs 27, the endof the flap 19a of cover member 19 is folded back over the studs and pins and secured in that position by snap fasteners so as to enclose the ripcord pin interconnection with the studs. The cable 35 passes through a flexible housing that is preferably attached to the top of the parachute pack 3 as at 37. The other end of cable 35 is connected to the D-ring 41 which is normally positioned in the D-ring retainer pocket 43 also attached to the top of the parachute pack 3. The cable 35 is preferably severable as at 45 by a suitable male-female interconnection or the like so as to facilitate separation of the raft package from the seat cushion 5 and the parachute pack 3'when it is desirable to do so. The bowed spring metallic strap 47 is sewed into a pocket between the grommets 31 on the flap 19a of cover member 19 as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

In operation, the raft 15 is first rolled into a suitable compact cylindrical configuration. The boot members 17 are then slipped over opposite ends of the rolled raft 15. The flap of the cover member 19 to which the studs 27 are secured is then wrapped about the rolled raft 15. The grommets 29 in the ends of the tabs 25 on boot members 17 are then positioned on their respective studs 27. The other flap of cover member 19 is then wrapped about the rolled raft 15 and grommets 31 herein are positioned on studs 27. Ripcord pins 33 are then inserted into the apertures adjacent the ends of studs 27 to maintain the cover member 19 and boot members 17 in their normal packaging position about the raft 15. The end of flap 19a is then folded back over ripcord pins 33 and cable 35 and secured by the snap fasteners. The packaged raft assembly is then secured to the front edge of the seat cushion 5 by the zipper mechanism 11 and to the parachute pack 3 by the snap fasteners and by the strap-buckle connection 12.

When the pilot approaches his parachute landing in the water after ejection from his aircraft, he reaches behind him and pulls D-ring 41. Actuation of D-ring 41 withdraws ripcord pins 33 from studs 27 and the bowed spring strap member 47 automatically opens cover member 19. Actuation of the nylon tape 23 then opens the control valve of the CO cartridge 21 and the raft l5 quickly inflates. Tape 23 is preferably connected to the pilot in some suitable manner so that the pilot and the raft cannot be separated during the landing operation.

It will be noted that until the D-ring 41 is operated for the removal of cover member 19 and boot members 17, tension on the nylon tape 23 cannot actuate the control valve of the CO cartridge 21. This fail-safe feature of the invention prevents inadvertent premature inflation of the raft 15.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. Water survival apparatus for use with an aviators parachute pack, said apparatus comprising:

a. a lightweight inflatable raft rolled into a compact cylindrical configuration;

b. a pair of cup-shaped boot members that fit over opposite ends of the rolled raft;

c. a cover member that overlies the outer peripheral surface of the rolled raft and the boot members on the opposite ends thereof;

d. means for manually controlling removal of the cover member and the boot members from the rolled raft when the raft is to be inflated;

e. and a line which is connected at one end to the control valve of a raft-inflating gas cartridge and at its other end to the aviator, said line being secured to and passing through one of said boot members.

2. Water survival apparatus for use with an aviators parachute pack, said apparatus comprising:

a. a lightweight inflatable raft rolled into a compact cylindrical configuration;

b. a pair of cup-shaped boot members that fit over opposite ends of the rolled raft;

c. a cover member that overlies the outer peripheral surface of the rolled raft and the boot members on. the opposite ends thereof;

d. a pair of studs which are secured to the outer peripheral surface of the cover member adjacent one side edge thereof;

e. a pair of grommets adjacent the other side edge of the cover member through which the studs pass when the cover member is wrapped about the rolled raft;

f. a tab connected to each boot member having a grommet through which the adjacent stud on the cover member also passes;

g. a ripcord pin which passes through an aperture adjacent the outer end of each stud and normally maintains the grommets in the cover and boot members fixed on the studs;

h. and a D-ring which is centrally positioned between the aviator's seat cushion and his parachute pack and which is connected to each of the ripcord pins.

3. The apparatus substantially as described in claim 2 wherein a bowed spring strap is secured to one side edge of the cover member. 

1. Water survival apparatus for use with an aviator''s parachute pack, said apparatus comprising: a. a lightweight inflatable raft rolled into a compact cylindrical configuration; b. a pair of cup-shaped boot members that fit over opposite ends of the rolled raft; c. a cover member that overlies the outer peripheral surface of the rolled raft and the boot members on the opposite ends thereof; d. means for manually controlling removal of the cover member and the boot members from the rolled raft when the raft is to be inflated; e. and a line which is connected at one end to the control valve of a raft-inflating gas cartridge and at its other end to the aviator, said line being secured to and passing through one of said boot members.
 2. Water survival apparatus for use with an aviator''s parachute pack, said apparatus comprising: a. a lightweight inflatable raft rolled into a compact cylindrical configuration; b. a pair of cup-shaped boot members that fit over opposite ends of the rolled raft; c. a cover member that overlies the outer peripheral surface of the rolled raft and the boot members on the opposite ends thereof; d. a pair of studs which are secured to the outer peripheral surface of the cover member adjacent one side edge thereof; e. a pair of grommets adjacent the other side edge of the cover member through which the studs pass when the cover member is wrapped about the rolled raft; f. a tab connected to each boot member having a grommet through which the adjacent stud on the cover member also passes; g. a ripcord pin which passes through an aperture adjacent the outer end of each stud and normally maintains the grommets in the cover and boot members fixed on the studs; h. and a D-ring which is centrally positioned between the aviator''s seat cushion and his parachute pack and which is connected to each of the ripcord pins.
 3. The apparatus substantially as described in claim 2 wherein a bowed spring strap is secured to one side edge of the cover member. 